ADDICTION Flashcards
(426 cards)
What is addiction
A disorder in which an individual takes a substance or engages in a behaviour that is pleasurable but eventually becomes compulsive with harmful consequences.
What 3 things is addiction marked by
Physiological and/or psychological dependence, tolerance and withdrawal
What is physical dependence
A state of the body due to habitual substance abuse which results in a withdrawal syndrome when use of the drug is reduced or stopped.
What is psychological dependence
A compulsion to continue taking a substance (or continue performing a behaviour) because its use is rewarding.
What is a consequence of psychological dependence
The person will keep taking the substance or engaging in a behaviour until it becomes a habit despite the harmful consequences
What is tolerance
A reduction in response to a substance, so that an addicted individual needs more to get the same effect.
What causes tolerance
Repeated exposure to the effects of a substance
What is behavioural tolerance
Give an example
It happens when an individual learns through experience to adjust their behaviour to compensate for the effects of a substance.
An alcoholic learns to walk slower so they dont fall when drunk.
What is cross-tolerance
Give an example
Developing a tolerance to one type of substance can reduce sensitivity to another type.
Alcohol and benzodiazepines
What is a risk factor
Any internal or external influence that increases the likelihood a person will start using addictive substances or engaging in addictive behaviours
Name the 5 risk factors for addiction
- Genetic vulnerability
- Stress
- Personality
- Family influences
- Peers
Explain how genetic vulnerability is a risk factor for addiction
People don inherit an addiction itself but a predisposition (vulnerability) to dependence.
Genes may determine the activity of neurotransmitter systems in the brain, which affect behaviours such as impulsivity which predispose a person to dependence.
Explain how stress is a risk factor for addiction
Does the stress have to be going on now
People who experience stress may turn to drugs as a form of self-medication
Stress includes present and past events
Explain how personality is a risk factor for addiction
Is there such thing as an ‘addictive personality’
Individual personality traits such as hostility and neuroticism may increase the risk of addiction.
Probably not.
Explain how family influences is a risk factor for addiction
Living in a family which uses addictive substances and/or has positive attitudes about addictions increases a person’s likelihood of becoming addicted
Explain how peers is a risk factor for addiction
As children get older, peer relationships become more important, even more than family.
Even if you dont use the drug your attitude towards them may be influenced
What is one limitation to risk factors
By focusing on one individual risk factor you may ignore the effect of interactions and also the positive effects.
Does one risk facto cause addictions
No
Combinations of risk matter more than single factors.
Who researched combinations of risk factors
Linda Mayes and Nancy Suchman (2006)
What did Mayes and Suchman conclude about combinations of risk factors
Different combinations partly determine the nature and severity of an addiction.
Are all of the risk factors mentioned always negative
Explain
Which risk factor is never positive
No
Personality traits, genetic characteristics, family and peer influences can reduce risks of addiction.
Stress
What is a more realistic way to view risk factors
View risk factors as multiple ‘pathways’ to addiction which include different combinations interacting and some having a positive effect.
What is one strength of looking at risk factors together
They point to the overriding interaction with genes.
Most risk factors are proximate. What does this mean
Example
They act as an immediate influence on addiction
High stress levels directly increase addiction risk as does the personality trade of novelty-seeking.